Valentine Sugar Cookie Tutorial

I have been blogging for four and a half years. That’s a lot of recipes.

Combine that with the fact that I’m getting a little forgetful in my old age and you end up spending the better part of the day working on a recipe to post on the blog only to realize that you posted that recipe, or at least one almost like it before!

Well, you’re getting a sort of repeat today. Last year I shared with you the sugar cookie recipe I use to make sugar cookies for cookie bouquets. It’s a great recipe.

Today’s recipe is a slight variation on that and since I spent all day working on it and the pictures are just too pretty not to post I’m doing it anyway! I’ve got a Valentine Sugar Cookie Tutorial for you.

I know for most people cut out sugar cookies are part of their Christmas tradition. At our house it is part of our Valentine’s tradition.

I always make heart shaped sugar cookies for Valentines. I love me a good sugar cookie!

This recipe does use butter and butter flavor Crisco. I know some of you don’t cook with Crisco, even though it no longer has trans fats, so you can just use all butter. But there is something about using Crisco in certain recipes that just works better. You get a better texture and the flavor is just as good as if you used all butter many times. So please forgive me but I used Crisco in this recipe!

Remember my paint stick trick that my friend Dawn shared with me. The best way to get perfectly even cookies. I prefer a thinner sugar cookie so I only use one layer of paint sticks. If you like thicker sugar cookies use two. Just place your dough between the two sticks and make sure your rolling pin rests on the sticks and roll away. Nice flat, even dough.

Of course I used heart cookie cutters for Valentines Day. I have a major collection of cookie cutters – all holidays, all shapes, all sizes. It takes up an entire cabinet in my kitchen. Out of control! You need a cookie cutter of the state of Oregon, I’ve got it!

Make sure not to put your cookies too close together on the cookie sheet. Nothing worse than two cookies that bake together!

Of course let them cool before frosting.

I have two different sugar cookie frosting recipes I use. It depends on what kind of look you want. For a shiny, flat look to your cookies you will want to use the glaze recipe.

Or if you like a thicker layer of frosting with a bit more texture use the buttercream frosting recipe.

Once you add the sprinkles they don’t look that much different!

For the glaze you want it to be runny but not too runny. You want it thin enough that it is easy to spread but thick enough that it doesn’t run off the edges of the cookie.

I just use a spoon to place a nice spoonful right in the middle of the cookie.

Then use a knife to spread it in a nice even layer . I always leave a bit of the edge of the cookie showing.

Then before the frosting sets up and dries add your sprinkles. I also have a collection of sprinkles!

The butter cream frosting is just spread with a knife also.

I always frost the cookies I want with white first and then add my food coloring into the remaining frosting.

Allow the frosting to set. The glaze frosting will set up better and more firm than the buttercream. If you are going to be packaging them up and stacking them the glaze may be a better choice. Just be sure to let them set up long enough.

Of course after they are nice and dry it’s time to package them up and deliver them to people you love!
I found these cute little bakery boxes at Standard Restaurant Supply in Salt Lake City on one of my Utah visits last year.

A doily and some baker’s twine dresses them up quite nicely.

Will you be my Valentine? Do you have a favorite Valentine treat you make every year?

Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes depending on thickness of cookie. If you like them softer, bake less.

Glaze Frosting

Combine powder sugar, extract and corn syrup in bowl.

If you are using a liquid food coloring, you will need to use LESS milk. If you are using a gel food coloring, your milk quantity can remain the same. Add in milk to desired consistency. It will get too runny fast so be careful.

Hi – I’m Leigh Anne! I have been a homebased mom for 30 years since my first baby boy was born! I love working with women and helping to inspire them to achieve their goals and dreams while still maintaining motherhood and family as their number one priority. I blog about everything I enjoy – creating treats and meals in my kitchen, spending time in my garden, entertaining and party planning, reading, self improvement and tips and ideas on style and fashion.

The same forgetfulness has happened to me with posting similar recipes. These cookies are really cute! Say, I’m moving and need to downsize my box of Wilton’s 101 cookie cutters. Which shapes do you use the most often or find most useful besides circles?

Definitely hearts and then probably stars next. I guess it really depends on when you tend to make sugar cookies. If it is usually at Christmas I would keep more Christmas. I tend do make them at Valentine’s and at Christmas.

Lovely post! I never thought about using paint sticks to help with rolling out the cookie dough! I also usually make dozens and dozens of heart shaped sugar cookies for Valentine’s Day! I package them up and attache a Valentine to them for my kiddos to pass out to the class at school. One year my daughter came home and said “Nobody believed you made these! They all thought you bought them.” lol I enjoyed your post!! I am visiting from the Sundae Scoop party!

Thanks so much for coming over for a visit. Yes, the trick with the paint sticks was pretty much life changing as far as my sugar cookie life goes! It works great. Heart shape sugar cookies are my favorite.

This “paint brush” trick for rolling sounds great, especially since I have a hard time getting my dough even. Would someone who knows about this describe how to roll sugar dough using paint brushes as a guide?

I used paint stir sticks not paint brushes. you just lay them down on the counter like in the picture on either side of your dough and then just place your rolling pin on top of them and roll the dough out. The paint stir sticks will keep the dough a even thickness.

I made the buttercream icing at xmas and it was great – I tried it again on my v-day cookies, and the icing was runny – not creamy like it was last time around. Any idea on what would make it funny? I followed the recipie exactly!!

Hi there – I made the buttercream icing at xmas and it was great – I tried it again on my v-day cookies, and the icing was runny – not creamy like it was last time around. Any idea on what would make it funny? I followed the recipie exactly as stated in the post and exactly as I had done at xmas!!